The Astroherbalism Apothecary: Crafting Herbal Charms for Your Sun Sign

I've written about the gifts of our Sun sign and how we can connect with that energy of our birth chart through a simple tarot practice - and now it's time to explore working with our Sun sign plant allies in magickal practice.

Building upon the energy of exploring our birth chart, I wanted to explore some astroherbalism techniques to help you craft elixirs and potions that support the energy of your Sun sign. As the Sun sign is a common starting point for many folks to western astrology, I'd thought it would be a good place to start, but I'll be continuing this series exploring the Moon sign and Ascendant, too.

While you'll find a few recipes in this post, what I really want to share with you is the framework of how we would approach creating your own unique potions, elixirs or herbal charms for your Sun so that you feel inspired to use what is readily available to you. We'll start by naming the ways our Sun sign affects our energy and then look at the common ways that Sun energy might need support in our life because its been blocked or undernourished. I'll provide you with some suggestsions to help you craft your own charms, and then leave you with a Sun sign ritual to support your magickal workings.

Let's get crafting in the astroherbalism apothecary!

As an herbalist, I work with astrology as a story-telling-listening tool and a way to help folks get to know and name the healing needs of their body (and by "body" I mean physical form, emotional and mental experience, the psychic body, and so on). Within traditional western herbalism, the Sun represents our inherent energy. There is no "good" or "bad" inherent energy, just the baseline energy that we're born with and our Sun sign helps us understand the ways that our energy flows throughout our life. Some of us, for example, have energy that is quick to show up and quick to disappear, while others have energy that is slow to arrive and meandering when it does get here. We bring this inherent energetic signature with us into all of our life experiences, including our experiences of wellness, discomfort, illness, and healing. 

Throughout our life we learn how to tend to the needs of our energy and develop skills to interact with the world that not only feels good to us (if at times challenging, but in a way that is helping us to stretch and grow more into who we are) but is sustainable. 

When it comes to supporting our Sun sign there are three primary paths that I work with: recipes that energize, recipes that soothe, and recipes that nourish. Below you'll find a brief description of each path of support as well as key phrases that help you identify your Sun sign energy needs. I encourage you to read these phrases aloud and if something resonates, to consider pursuing that path of magickal healing. Once you've identified what type of path will be most useful for you at this time, you can choose a few suggested herbs and then follow the guide below to creating your custom Sun sign charm with.

image via @mickeydziwulski

Energize Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to awaken, enliven, and generally stimulate Sun sign energy that may be sluggish, recovering from stress and/or illness, and in general need of waking up. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of an energizing charm include:

• I feel like I can't get going. 

• I feel stuck in one place. 

• What's the point?

• I don't feel inspired or creative.

• I just feel "blah" all the time.

Herbs for an Energizing Charm

For a charm that is helping to energize and wake up our Sun current, we want to work plant allies that are stimulating, inspiration-inducing, and energetically bright. From a magickal perspective, seeds and fruits are especially energizing, which is why I love incorporating plants into my Sun charms that are brightly colored and grow prolifically like Calendula (Calendula officinalis) not only in flower form, but in seed form as well. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general, brightly colored, especially in warm and sunny tones, plants that grow easily in a variety of conditions, as well as spicy or strong tasting plants, are great options. Here are a few energizing Sun plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

• Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)

• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

• St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

• Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

If they are already in your collection, you might consider adding any of the following stone allies to your energizing Sun charm including Citrine, Clear Quartz, Carnelian, Red Jasper, and Tiger's Eye. You can also consider choosing bright and warm color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @rayhennessy

Soothe Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to soften, relax, and create a sense of calm for Sun energy that is in excess leading to feelings of agitation, anxiousness, and general overwhelm. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a soothing charm include:

• I'm so anxious!

• I don't fit in anywhere.

• I need a hug (or other comforting experience).

• I just feel on edge all the time.

• No one gets me.

Herbs for a Soothing Charm

Focus on herbs that help to diffuse excess Sun energy, helping to ground and center us. From a magickal perspective, roots and barks of plants (always sustainably harvested), have an inherently grounding energy which is why I love solar plants like Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) for soothing solar charms. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general herbs that are cooling, including cooling colors such as blue or purple flowers, grounding, and relaxing are excellent options. Here are a few Sun energy soothing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• Burdock (Arctium lappa)

• Borage (Borago officinalis)

• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

• Rose (Rosa spp.)

• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

There are also a variety of stone allies you might consider working with to help soothe your Sun energy if you already have them available including Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Obsidian, Amethyst, Citrine, and Flourite. You might also consider choosing cool color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @kiendo

Nourish Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that tend to the fundamental needs of our Sun energy, helping us feel energetically fed and supported in our energetic needs - a Sun sign tonic. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a nourishing charm include:

• I feel burnt out.

• Everything feels like too much.

• I'm exhausted.

• Who's going to take care of me?

• I could really use a break right now.

Herbs for a Nourishing Charm

Focus on herbs that feel comforting and inviting, helping us to come home to our solar self. From a magickal perspective, flowers and leaves carry nourishing energy and I'm particularly fond of plant allies like Rose (Rosa spp.) to help nourish solar energy.  While you should check out the "Guardian Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign to help you explore nourishing herbs for your particular Sun energy, in general focusing on vitamin and mineral rich plants, herbs full of gentle but warm color, and herbs that you enjoy the scent, taste, and/or feel of can be good options. Here are a few Sun energy nourishing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)

• Linden (Tilia europea)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

• Milky Oat (Avena sativa)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus monogyna)

Stone allies that you might consider working with to help nourish your Sun energy, if you already have them in your collection, include Citrine, Rose Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Pink Tourmaline, and Magano Calcite. You might also consider choosing gentle and warm colors - such as rosy pinks, soft oranges, warm yellows - for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @daiga_ellaby

Creating Your Sun Sign Charm

Decide the form that your Sun charm will take (i.e. a spell bottle, a charm bag, a solar altar, or something else entirely) and gather all of your ingredients and items needed as well as a candle and candle holder. If you are able to perform this charm on a sunny day, even better, but it's not necessary for success as often we need to recharge our solar energy because sunny days have been far and few between. Ground and center (perhaps with a tree of life meditation) and settle into sacred space through your preferred method. Lay the items for your charm out before you, along with your candle. Light the candle by saying:

By the light of the Sun
By the light of the fire
By the light of my heart's
honest desire
I work my magick
I cast my spell
To {charge, soothe, nourish} my energy
That all may be well.

Visualize the light of the candle (and the Sun if you are outside) growing and expanding, meeting with your own solar energy. Let the light fill up the places of your solar aura that need healing, helping to fortify your Sun energy. When ready, begin to craft your charm, naming aloud the purpose of each item that you are adding to it such as:

Calendula for energy and strength
St. Joan's Wort for hope and joy
Lemon Balm for clarity and community

Once the charm has been made, pass the charm through the flame six times, visualizing the light of the flame and the sun being gathered up into the charm. Then pass the charm between you and the the candle flame, reciting at least six times (or until the energy needed is raised) in a rhythmic fashion:

By light, I am {energized, soothed, nourished}
My Sun renewed
Round and about
Through and through

When you feel the energy has been raised, press the charm to your heart and exclaim: 

So mote it be!

You can now use your charm as you please, carrying it with you or setting placing it in an auspicious place in your home. The charm can be re-charged by putting it under sunlight and/or repeating the sun charm ritual as needed.

✨

While I love connecting folks with healing modalities, plant allies, and magickal practices, I've come to realize that a lot of my work is learning how to be an effective resource library and to help folks connect with their healing community. I find that astrological language can be an excellent tool for that, especially for marginalized folks who've been injured within medical systems - physically, emotionally, spiritually - feel hesitant to access the care they need. 

It was my own magickal practice that led me to re-membering, after being raised under the deep shadow of capitalism that tries to sell us the lie of the isolated individual solely responsible for earning their "wellness," that healing is a community act, that we all deserve healing resources (including accessing the work of mental health professionals) by simply existing. If you have read through this post and feel some resonance with a statement that you weren't expecting or feelings that feel hard to sit with, I invite you to seek out some of the incredible community-centered healing resources available to you (you can find a short list at the end of this post to help get you started). Part of working with paths like modern astrology is recognizing where the story of our birth chart is pointing us towards - including the types of collaborative healing spaces and skills that would benefit us the most during any and every stage of life.

That's magick, friends, clarifying our intention, naming it, asking for what we desire, and letting love open the path back home to ourselves and our community.

If you are looking to learn more about your Sun sign come this way and you can check out my astroherbology archive for an abundance of resources for your studies and practice. 

May your inner Sun shine brightly!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

How to Make Your Own Rose Herbal Coffee

I am motivated by tea.

Yes, I’m motivated by justice and kindness and those I love and the work I do, but I’m also living in an earthy body that craves earthly pleasures. One of those pleasures is hot drinks - whether herbal tisanes, black teas or matcha lattes. So my Rose Herbal Coffee is a recipe that I love to make to help motivate and nourish my body and supports the work that I do.

Rose (Rosa spp), like Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a much-needed herb to help our ancient bodies deal with modern demands. I think Rose is a great herbal ally if you’re an activist and organizer because they remind us that we need to know how to be gentle as much as we need to be fierce. Equipped with thorn magick, my Rose Herbal Coffee recipe supports our emotional wellbeing along with our physical wellbeing. It also includes some lovely gut and liver nourishing herbs to support our bodies inherent ability to release and renew. I add in Cacao Nibs (Theobroma cacao) because I love a bit of a cocoa taste but if you’re not inclined to chocolate or find it too stimulating you can easily remove the nibs and still be left with a delicious tea.

My Rose Herbal Coffee is grounding and helps to draw energy down and out of the body. So, if you’re someone who wakes up feeling agitated and a bit anxious you might find this brew really helpful. Because it’s caffeine-free you can enjoy a cup of Rose Herbal Coffee in the evenings, too, and it’ll help with post-meal digestion.

Rose Herbal Coffee

• 4 parts Roasted Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

• 2 part Roasted Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)

• 2 part Cacao Nibs (Theobroma cacao)

• 1/4 part Rose (Rosa spp.)

• 1/4 part Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

• 1/8 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

I prepare my herbal coffee in two parts. First, I add the Dandelion and Roasted Carob into my pot of water (about 1 tablespoon of herb to 1 cup of water), bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes, and then strain. Into that strained brew I add the rest of the herbs to steep for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then I add it some milk of choice and a bit of sweet, but it’s also delightful all on its own. 

Enjoy! Looking for more recipes? You can find all of my recipes and tutorials here. 

How to Use Herbal Powders (with Free Recipes!)

I began using herbal powders early on in my practice as an easy and alcohol-free alternative to tinctures.

Herbal powders can be added to juices, smoothies, honey or your milk of choice for internal use or quickly mixed with oil, water or honey for external application. My two favorite ways to use herbal powders are either in smoothies where I just add them in and blend or as herbal milks (recipe below). One of the things I love about herbal powders is that they are a form of whole plant medicine! When I have been traveling or have limited supplies on hand, I'll just mix an herbal powder with an ounce of water and down it like the magickal tonic that it is!

Topically, herbal powders can be used to quickly create a compress. Mix the powdered herbs with a little bit of water, oil or honey to form a paste. Rub it on the affected body part and cover with a cloth. For example, you might use Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum) for lower back pain whether from strain or menstruation.

General Guidelines for Using Herbal Powders

• Make sure that your herbal powders are medicinally potent by using them within six to nine months of when they were ground up. Some herbal powders degrade much quicker and all will last better when stored in an air-tight container in a cold and dark place (like a refrigerator).
• Start with single powders before moving onto blends. I recommend this all the time, not just for herbal powders. If you really want to track and understand how an herb is affecting you, using them one at a time is one of the clearest ways of achieving this. 
• Dosage varies widely depending on a person constitution as well as condition. 1/4 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon (or roughly 1 to 4 grams) 1 to 3 times a day is a relatively standard dose. It’s always best to consult your materia medica and/or herbal practitioner for dosage guidelines as well as listening to your body. 

Nearly any herb can be powdered, so the possibilities for using herbal powders in your practice are practically endless. Below I’ve listed three of my favorite herbal powders of the moment with brief descriptions of their healing benefits.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

Let’s start with a spice that is easy to find! Cinnamon has been in use since at least ancient Egypt (where it’s use was first recorded) and probably much longer than that. It’s a warming herb which stimulates digestion, helps regulate blood sugar, and increases vitality. Cinnamon improves memory while uplifting the spirits (which makes it a great herb for students). It protects against and clears up colds and ‘flus as well as being stimulating to the circulatory system. If you’re struggling with low energy, mental fatigue, and anxiousness, especially when mixed with sugar cravings, Cinnamon might be a great ally for you. The herb can be added to a variety of dishes to enhance flavor which makes itsuch an easy herb to incorporate into your herbal practice. 

Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum)

Ashwagandha is known as a rasayana or a rejuvenative herb in Ayurveda and it’s classified as an adaptogen in western herbalism. It is the adaptogen that I reach for most regularly and my absolute favorite way to prepare it is as a milky evening drink (recipe below). Ashwagandha nourishes the brain and neural pathways of the body while restoring strength after a period of stress or illness. Use for cases of auto-immune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, brain fog, as well as insomnia, anxiety, nervous exhaustion, and stress. It’s a wonderful addition to your diet if you’re an athlete or work out regularly - you can use it as part of your pre-work-out snack. Topically, it also assists with alleviating muscle pain. Ashwaghanda has a mild, slightly bittersweet taste which is one reason that it’s so easy to add to beverages and food. 

Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

I met Moringa a few years back when I received some tea as part of an herbal swap. The leaves of the Moringa tree are nutrient dense and a great source of protein. It’s a brain and liver tonic, anti-arsenic, antioxidant-rich, and a source of stress-reducing magnesium. Moringa helps to lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, and there have been hopeful studies done regarding it’s anti-cancer capabilities. The herb also helps to increase milk-supply for breastfeeding folks and because it is so nutrient dense and stress-alleviating I like to recommend it as a postpartum herb. Moringa is mild in flavor and I usually add it to my morning smoothie. 

Other herbs that I often use in powdered form include: Nettles (Urtica dioica), Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Spirulina, Chlorella, Astragalus, Chicory (Cichorium intybus), and Eleuthero.

Herbal Powder Milk Tea

I like to prepare this in the evening about an hour before bed as a sweet treat to end my day and begin to prepare myself for the next.

Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered herb to 1 cup of your milk of choice. Bring the milk to almost boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add sweetener of choice (honey is traditional, but coconut sugar is another good option). If you use brown rice milk, which is naturally sweet, you don’t need to add any extra sweetener.  If I’m making this with Ashwagandha, I’ll add a dash of Cinnamon at the end. Drink and enjoy!

Golden Herbal Powder

Golden Powder Blend is a wonderful daily remedy for those wanting to help rebuild adrenal strength. You can read all about it here.

To make your own Golden Herbal Powder mix together the following powdered herbs:

• 2 parts Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) 
• 1 part Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 
• 1/4 part Pine Pollen (Pinus massoniana)

Recommended dosage is 1/2 - 1 teaspoon up to three times daily. You can mix Golden into water, juice, smoothie or your food of choice.

Yum! Pow! Herbal Cacao

Yup, Cacao powder is medicinal. (You're welcome.) For those who need a bit of pep in the morning, which usually requires us to release tension in order to use our energy more wisely, I like creating a brew with adaptogen herbs. I really like adaptogens and Cacao working together and when you add in a spice or two, clever one, you're on a roll to kickstarting your morning! Yum! Pow! contains Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus) which works with Cacao's heart enhancing gifts as well as improve the function of the immune system as an immunostimulating herb. Read more about the benefits of Cacao here.

To create Yum! Pow! combine the following powdered herbs:

• 4 parts Raw Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
• 4 parts Roasted Chicory Root (Cichorium intybus)
• 1 part Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)
• 1/4 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)
• Optional: 1 part Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) for natural sweetness, but it does have a slightly grainier texture.

To brew, add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon to your milk of choice and gently warm. Add sweetener (or not!) to taste. You can also add Yum! Pow! to your smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder

The original Worts + Cunning Apothecary green powder was one of my best sellers when I ran my remedy shop. If you want the recipe, it's yours! Just sign-up for my free Magick Mail newsletter and you'll not only get Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder recipe but other exclusive content. But it's only available until the end of May 2017 (so sign-up to get it quick!).

Go forth and make your herbal powders! And make sure to let me know what your favorite herbal powders are in the comments below. 

Adaptogens for Radiant Health (+ A Giveaway!)

I got sent a copy of Indie Herbalist Agatha Noveille's newest book, Adaptogens: 75+ Herbal Recipes + Elixirs to Improve Your Skin, Mood, Energy, Focus, and More!, in exchange for an honest review. And, holy heck, I'm so glad I agreed because - spoiler alert! - this is one of my new favorite recipe books! Even better - I have an extra copy to giveaway to a special reader.

Do you have a book, tarot or oracle deck, herbal remedy that you're interested in having me review? Get in touch!

I became familiar with Agatha's work earlier this year and I admire her clear, no-fuss approach to herbalism. She's written a number of ebooks, but Adaptogens is her first print book. Now, before we get any further into the review, let me be real honest here. I was a bit worried that I was going to receive another recipe book that was ok but uninspired, filled with recipes that I've seen before and none venturing beyond the standard tea, tincture, and salve variety.

Thank goodness, Agatha's book is nothing of the sort. Within minutes of receiving it I had already marked it up with post-it notes on recipes I couldn't wait to try. Friends, the sheer variety of recipes within here is impressive. New herbalists will be exposed to the wonderful diversity of herbal remedy making while folks who've been in the game for a while will still find something interesting and compelling. 

But let's backtrack. What the heck are adaptogens?

From the back of Agatha's book:

Adaptogens belong to a unique class of herbs that greatly improves your body's reaction to emotional and physical stress while increasing your energy, stamina, endurance, and mental clarity.

Adaptogens have grown in popularity in the past few years within the herbal community and slowly and steadily beyond the apothecaries of practitioners. Sometimes talk about adaptogens gets in the realm of magic pills - that they'll somehow fix everything if you just take a dozen a day. Agatha's book doesn't fall into this trap, but instead introduces adaptogenic herbs as something to be incorporated thoughtfully into your daily nourishment practice. In other words, less magic pills and more nourishing companions.

Adaptogens lend themselves well to a variety of creative recipes and working with them in this way is a pleasure. Rather than another expensive vitamin pill to pop or a bitter-tasting herbal extract to pinch your nose and toss back, you can experiment with tasty teas, yummy syrups, or fun and interesting snacks to incorporate adaptogens into your life. (Adaptogens, 8)

More about adaptogens from Agatha:

By 1968, Israel I. Brekhman, PhD, and Dr. I.V. Dardymov had developed the functional definition that has evolved into the concepts about adaptogens that we know today. According to the definition used by Brekhman and Dardymov:

1. An adaptogen is nontoxic to the recipient.
2. An adaptogen produces a nonspecific response in the body - an increase in the power of resistance against multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents.
3. An adaptogen has a normalizing influence on physiology, irrespective of the direction of change from physiological norms caused by the stressor. (Adaptogens, 13)

In short, adaptogens help us to adapt to stress.

Agatha explores 24 different adaptogens in her book from classic Ayurvedic adaptogens like Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) to Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs like Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsis) and Traditional Western herbs like Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). She also covers skills, supplies, and safety measurements needed to proceed with making your own recipes.

Now for a bit of a nerdy herbal aside: there has been a new resurgence of interest amongst Traditional Western Herbalists on making extracts via percolation versus the more commonly taught maceration (in which you stick herbs and menstruum in a jar and let it, well, macerate for a few weeks). As someone who doesn't make a lot of alcohol extracts to begin with I typically use the maceration technique, but after reading Agatha's introduction to percolation, I can't wait to give the technique a try! I'll post my experiments with the method in the months to come.

Agatha has recipes for sodas, truffles, teas, herbal oils, powders, salves, puddings, and a whole lot more. 75+ recipes is no lie.

I chose one recipe to test out - the Beauty Breakfast Bowl Sprinkle. I happened to have the herbs needed in stock in my home apothecary and the recipe features three herbs I love to use regularly anyways.  Lots of folks are familiar with Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) and Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum), but He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) is typically less recognized outside of the herbal world. Let's take a look at what Agatha has to say about the herb:

He shou wu means "black haired Mr. He." Mr. He is credited with the discovery of this herbs' properties. There is a lot of fantastic and bizarre lore around this herb if you look back in the ancient literature. (As an example, the root of a 300-year-old he shou wu plant is said to bestow immortality).

Regardless of some of the wilder claims surrounding this herb in traditional medicine, it is also used for tamer purposes such as nourishing the kidneys and liver and improving weakness and fatigue, lower back pain, dizziness, insomnia, and erectile dysfunction. It was also used in "hit medicine" formulas by martial artists that were applied topically. In traditional Japanese herbalism it is used for constipation and inflammatory conditions of the intestines.

Modern applications of the herb are similar, including dizziness, ringing in the ears, anemia, low back pain, and premature greying; it is used as a men's fertility herb, and in some cases fro women's reproductive health as well. (Adaptogens, 47)

I have found that folks who experience dizziness as a symptom of their fatigue and overwork to be a sign that He Shou Wu might be useful. The herb is wonderfully gentle and doesn't overstimulate while still improving energy levels. I am particularly fond of He Shou Wu mixed with Cacao (Theobroma cacao), so I was interested to try it with a naturally sweet but spicy blend.

Beauty Breakfast Bowl Sprinkle

The Beauty Breakfast Bowl Sprinkle is a balancing kidney tonic which helps us to cultivate vigor, clear-headedness, healthy hair, and happy bones. You can add it to breakfast porridge, oatmeal, or yogurt. I like adding some to smoothies, too!

Yields 3 Tablespoons of Spice Blend

• 1 tablespoon of goji berries
• 1 tablespoon of he shou wu
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

How to Make

1. Combine the powdered goji berries, powdered he shou wu, and powdered cinnamon in a small glass canning jar.
2. Put the lid on the jar and gently shake the jar to combine all of the ingredients. Let the powder settle to the bottom of the jar before you open it again.
3. Put a few teaspoons of your spice into a salt or pepper shaker, or leave all of it in the jar, whichever you prefer.
4. Apply a label to the jar and store it with the other blends in your spice cabinet.

The Beauty Breakfast Bowl Sprinkle is easy to make and a lot of fun to use! It's naturally sweet, but with the spiciness of Cinnamon (which I love), and the neutral tasting He Shou Wu means that it is easy to add to most breakfast foods without becoming overbearing. Yum!

Agatha's Adaptogens: 75+ Herbal Recipes + Elixirs to Improve Your Skin, Mood, Energy, Focus, and More! is a great book that I'll happily recommend to students and peers for years to come.

My copy is already becoming well loved and worn as I continue to create Agatha's delicious recipes. The great news is that you can buy a copy for yourself and herbally curious companions! Even greater news is that you can also enter below to win a copy from me! You have to live in the USA to enter and the winner will be announced December 15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Make Your Own Lovely Lughnasadh Brew

Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is the first harvest festival of the wheel of the year.

Traditionally, the day is a time of athletic competition and funeral games in honor of Lugh's foster-mother Tailtu, an ancient earth mother and incredibly powerful queen, who cleared the land in Ireland, died from her efforts, and became the life-sustaining grain that sprang forth from the fields. The intermingling celebrations of life and death is a common theme in both ancient and modern Pagan festivals. Lughnasadh is a reminder to celebrate our harvest and show off the skills we have developed over the previous season. It is also a period to remember the ancestors whose shoulders we stand upon - those who have given their lives in the struggle so that we may be sustained and grow. May we be able vessels of their memories, may we speak their names, and may we carry on their work for the betterment of our communities.

Modern celebrations of Lughnasadh is typically take place between July 31 and August 2. Astrologically speaking, Lughnasadh is marked by the Sun reaching the midpoint of the sign of Leo (or 15 degrees Leo). Which basically means that you can celebrate the First Harvest for a whole week if you like, which would be quite lovely. You can learn more about the significance of Leo within astroherbology over here.

My tea of the season celebrates the slow burning end of summer with some spicy heat and beautiful berries. Make a big community pot to heal the hearts of your kindreds after a long, hot summer season. If you don't have blackberries available, use another local sweet berry in its place - especially if you've harvested them yourself!

The tea features Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) which is an amazing African herb that is a rich source of antioxidants and it's a great daily tonic tea. The tea is a beautiful red color (it's name is Afrikaans for "red bush") and is rich in flavonoids which do all sorts of great things in our body from reducing inflammation and easing tension. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a great digestive herb helping to soothe angry intestines while Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) is well known for its ability to manage blood sugar and is another digestive aid. Black Pepper (Piper nigra) harmonizes and sparks the blend, again, helping with digestion (specifically awakening a sluggish digestive system) and having an overall clearing affect in the body.

Lovely Lughnasadh Brew

Blend together the following herbs:

• 5 parts Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
• 1/2 part Fennel Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare)
• 1/2 part Cinnamon Chips (Cinnamomum spp.)
• 1/4 - 1/8 part Freshly ground Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

Add 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of hot water. Then add 2 - 3 Blackberries to each cup of tea and allow to steep for 5 - 7 minutes. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding or reducing the amount of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) or omitting it all together. Want it more sweet? Add more Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). No fresh berries available? (That's a shame.) The tea is still good without them (but really find some berries if you can).  You'll be set for some Lughnasadh feasting with this cuppa in your hands! 

Looking for more recipes? Sure thing! Check out my recipes + tutorials section. You can also find out more about what is ripening in your life, what is changing, and what needs to be given with my First Harvest Tarot Spread.

I hope you have a blessed and magickal first harvest festival! Do you have a favorite Lughnasadh recipe? Share in the comments below!